Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Private Jet Charters a Big Time Saver

By Ellie Craft


Saving time is the number one reason that companies choose private jet travel. While that may be the first reason there are other reasons to consider a private charter flight the next time that you travel.

On commercial flights you generally don't get to choose who you sits in the seats next to you. Unless you're flying with friends (and often even then) you might get stuck next to the perfume addict or the heavy smoker. Or maybe you'll get to sit between the two offensive linemen from the local college. Fun!

Flying commercially its next to impossible to get to several meetings in distant locations in the same day. Its not because of flight time but instead due to the incessant delays of commercial flights and co-ordinating flight times. Using private jet charters you can easily have a morning meeting in New York and an afternoon meeting in Boston and still make it down to Florida for the game in the evening. The flexibility of charter flights to get you where you need to be quickly and without delay is unparalleled with commercial aviation.

Some businesses have found it makes sense to own their own aircraft to support moving executives and workers around to their different locations. Occasionally that aircraft or several aircraft will be in use or unavailable due to maintenance or pilot delays. Or a larger aircraft may be needed for a larger group of passengers or for a longer range flight crossing oceans. In those instances charter planes can fill the gap and provide the same or higher levels of service to the passengers.

You miss the endless delays at the airport. Lets just go through them for fun. First you have to wait to park your car, in the farthest lot from the terminal and then you get to wait for the shuttle to take you there. Then you wait in line to check your bags and perhaps get your ticket. Even using electronic check in there are often delays in checking your luggage in.

Even if the check in process goes smoothly you still face the typically very long line to get through the security check. Where you get to be humiliated by removing your shoes and belt and if you're lucky walk through a full body scanner so somebody can see you with x-ray vision. On a private flight your plane leaves when you arrive after a few simple, quick security checks.

After getting through security the real wait begins. You did come prepared with that great new novel you've been wanting to read, right? Over the last 5 years about 20% of commercial flights were delayed because of weather, flight crew or maintenance problems or air traffic control delays. With the new tarmac delay rule in effect from the FAA - which is meant to protect passengers from waiting in the plane on the tarmac for longer than 3 hours - there has been a rise in the number of flights canceled, perhaps due to the airlines not wanting to pay the steep files imposed for the long waits.

With a private plane charter you skip all of these delays. Instead of the hurry up and wait you drive directly through to the hanger and park your car where it will be waiting for you upon your return. You step into the plane and it leaves as soon as you're ready. Instead of you waiting for everyone else, they are waiting for you.

The other big time saver of private charter flights is the ability to fly out of an airport that is very close to your home. Instead of driving an hour or more to get to a major airport the plane picks you up at a smaller regional airport that serves your community. Likewise, you often arrive much closer to your destination as well. With a rental car or hired taxi there to take you to your final destination.

One reason you might not consider at first for using a private plane is the privacy it affords. Athletes and celebrities often use private flights just for this reason alone. Can you imagine what you would do if your favorite celebrity sat next to you on your next flight? I would imagine that you would ask for their autograph or at least a picture. Not only is a private flight private but it also offers food that can be catered to your tastes. You might actually enjoy the meal on your flight.

Steve Jobs knew a good deal when he saw. When Apple asked how they could compensate him after his return he asked for a private plane. He knew this would enable him to spend more time with his family which was in short supply as he ran both Pixar and Apple at the same time. The plane allowed him to reach his favorite vacation spot in Hawaii with his family in a few short hours.

While you may be saying to yourself, "Sure, of course the super rich can afford to charter a jet" you might be surprised at how reasonable it can be to fly via private charter. If you're buying first or business class airfare for more than 4 people you might be surprised how close the cost of chartering a turboprop or light jet would be. And you would be all but assured of getting to your destination on time for once. Next time you need to fly on time take a private jet charter!




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